Each elementary and preschool family receives a copy of a book to read with their family at home. Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares students to be effective readers, and it is also a fun, worthwhile family activity! Everyone – students, families, and staff — follows along together. And students participate in activities, trivia, and events over the course of two weeks. 

 

Each day, there will be new chapters to read. A reading schedule can be found below to help everyone stay on track!

Each elementary and preschool family receives a copy of a book to read with their family at home. Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares students to be effective readers, and it is also a fun, worthwhile family activity! Everyone – students, families, and staff — follows along together. And students participate in activities, trivia, and events over the course of two weeks. 

This story follows Bixby Alexander Tam–Bat for short–who is a third-grader at Saw Whett Elementary. Bat's mom, a veterinarian, brings home a baby skunk that needs to be taken care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter. That changes the moment that Bat meets the baby skunk for the first time: he knows they belong together. With  only one month of time, can he show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet? Read along with us to find out!

 

A Boy Called Bat has several important main themes, including diversity and the labels that we receive from society, relationships and how we are transformed through them with our family, friends, and others, and the importance of one's name. Readers are challenged to consider a different perspective as they view the world through Bat's eyes. Bat also gives the opportunity as someone who is autistic for others to learn about and understand how the disability can affect people, as well as how they can relate to people who deal with autism on a daily basis.

 

The story is written at a third-grade level and includes vocabulary that will be above the level of younger students who are reading along. That’s okay! Building rich vocabulary through this tale of friendship and care is sure to delight all ages!